Each year, NFL Network releases its top 100 players in the league. It comes out in multiple episodes and generates good discussion.
This year, Dalton Miller of Pro Football Network set upon the daunting task of creating a list of the top 100 players in the NFL. He ranked Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson at eighth overall and left tackle Christian Darrisaw at 87th overall.
Jefferson is the best wide receiver in the National Football League and Miller agrees, drawing the comparison to the player he replaced in Stefon Diggs.
Think about Diggs for a second. He’s one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, and the Minnesota Vikings simply replaced him with a more athletic version of himself.
Justin Jefferson is the best receiver in the NFL. He glides on the field, and his ability to manipulate defenders with pacing and stride length while attacking leverage is unmatched. But Jefferson can also go up and get the ball and makes no qualms going over the middle. He’s a three-level threat who should have an easier job in 2023 with a bit of help coming his way offensively in Jordan Addison and a full season of T.J. Hockenson.
Miller spoke highly of Darrisaw and that it was just a matter of time for him.
It was only ever a matter of time for Christian Darrisaw. Penei Sewell and Rashawn Slater vacuumed up most of the buzz surrounding the 2021 OL class, but Darrisaw had that same kind of ability coming from Virginia Tech. Darrisaw played well but was very obviously a rookie in 2021. He was excellent at protecting Kirk Cousins a season ago, and he’s one of the most dominant run blockers in the NFL at the position.
You could make arguments for right tackle Brian O’Neill, edge rusher Danielle Hunter and safety Harrison Smith to be included in this list, but there are a lot of really good players in the NFL.
